Air conditioners use gas coolant to cool the air in your home. Central air conditioners are designed to continually cool the home to the desired temperature of the homeowner. The coolants they use are supposed to last the lifetime of an air conditioner, but accidental damage, wear and tear, contaminants and other issues can spring up. In these cases, the air conditioner may need a charge of coolant after the issues are fixed. Determining the issue in advance, however, can help you avoid adding coolant to the unit if it actually doesn’t need it. The Thermostat The thermostat is the first place to look if you suspect that the air conditioner may have lost its charge of coolant. In addition, sometimes units merely need a reset to trigger the electronic elements of the system. To start, set the thermostat to around 85 degrees and wait half an hour or so, then adjust it to around 60 degrees and wait for the unit to kick on. If the house begins to cool, it was simply a reset. You can also reset the unit directly at the source or flip the breaker to the AC unit.

Additionally, inspect the thermostat unit itself by removing the plate cover to see if any of the components within are sticking due to humidity buildup or dust. The Vents If the vents are blowing room-temperature air, or warm air, rather than cold after you clean the thermostat and reset the unit, this is a sign that your coolant might be out of charge in the air conditioner. carrier split system air conditioner wiring diagramYou check this by holding your hand in front of the vents and feeling for warm air. how to put freon in my ac unitGive the machine at least 15 minutes to see if maybe it was just residual air coming out of the vent system as it makes its way throughout your home. coleman ac units for rvIf the air still isn’t cold, it is a sign that you could need to call a technician for a coolant charge.

Frost Buildup The coolant used in air conditioner units is in gaseous form that can freeze elements it comes into contact with. Leaks are easily spotted because there will be frost buildup around connectors, such as where the coolant tank connects to the air conditioner. The buildup can also be on the surrounding hoses, tubes, fan motors and beyond. If you have already reset the unit, checked the thermostat and verified that it’s still blowing warm air, it could that you have a leak and there is no more coolant in the system. Frozen components are proof that there is a leak and the coolant is escaping the system rather than cooling the air. Inspection Air conditioning units should be cleaned regularly to keep dirt and debris from building up within the machine. All units have filters, but the filters can become clogged over time. Additionally, outdoor units can have the covering panels come loose from wind during a storm, which will blow debris into the unit. This can cause the fans to stop working, thus resulting in no air being pushed through the vents, or it can clog the air filter and reduce the air flow, which will lower the cooling effect the unit has on your home.

Before you automatically blame the coolant system, check your system for dirt and debris and give everything a good cleaning. If the unit still doesn’t push cold air after that, call a technician to recharge the system. Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionZheng, Y., "Ways to Determine Vehicle Dual AC System Charge Level," SAE Technical Paper 2014-01-0697, 2014, doi:10.4271/2014-01-0697.You may already have access. Technical Papers / Journal ArticlesThere are any number of issues that can cause your air conditioner to stop working. Luckily, they’re not all expensive fixes. The problem could be just a loose wire that’s caused a power failure in your air conditioner. Or you could have a clogged air filter that’s impeding the air flow to the system.On the other hand, when AC compressor failure causes your system to breakdown, you have a major AC emergency service problem and a big expense on your hands. The compressor is a vital and expensive component, and when it goes you may find yourself dropping a lot of cash on a new AC unit.

The good news is, as much as 80 percent of the causes of AC compressor failure are preventable if the problems leading to the failure are corrected in a timely manner. These problems can be detected and eliminated during regular AC preventative maintenance.Related Article: 8 Ways AC Preventative Maintenance Keeps the Repairman Away.Your air conditioner’s compressor is often called the heart of the system. This is a good analogy for a few reasons:Now that you understand why it’s so critical to keep your compressor in good shape, let’s take a look at some of the things that can cause AC compressor failure and what you can do to avoid them.When AC compressor failure happens, it’s often due to an underlying issue that causes stress on the system. That’s important to know for two reasons:These are the common issues that cause AC compressor failure:When dust, grime and mineral scales build up on the condenser coil, the air conditioner can’t expel enough heat from the system and it’s forced to run constantly trying to cool your space.

The increased pressure and temperature can cause the compressor to overheat and fail.When your air conditioner’s refrigerant lines become blocked or damaged, the first thing you’ll notice is that the unit is not cooling as effectively. If the problem is not fixed, once again the increased pressure and temperature cause overheating and AC compressor failure.If your system’s refrigerant lines develop holes or cracks, the air conditioner leaks refrigerant. After a while, the level becomes so low that the compressor has to work harder to pump enough refrigerant through the system to cool your space. The strain can eventually cause the compressor to break down.If your refrigerant line develops leaks and needs to be replaced, make sure you get an experienced AC technician to do the job. A line that’s too large or too small for your system can cause premature AC compressor failure.If a less-than-qualified person works on your air conditioner and inadvertently adds too much refrigerant, or even the wrong type of refrigerant, it can be a deadly mistake for the compressor.

An electrical failure can result in a buildup of acids that cause a great deal of damage to other parts in addition to the compressor. If you have a failed compressor, make sure the technician tests for the presence of these acids. If he finds them, an electrical burnout has caused damage throughout the system that is probably not worth fixing.But electrical problems are often easily preventable when an experienced tech inspects your system: he can spot and repair damaged wiring, fuses and contractors before they take down your system and cause AC compressor failure.Related Article: A Guide to the Top 3 Power Related Air Conditioner Problems.The high heat and pressure in an air conditioning system, not to mention the locations where they are typically housed in New York City (outdoors, on rooftops, in crawl spaces) can introduce any number of contaminants that can cause damage. These include air, moisture, dirt, debris, leaves, soot, acids, and even bird and pest droppings.Related Article: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: How To Keep Your HVAC System Contaminant Free.To take the heart comparison a step further, think of your air conditioner’s oil lubricant like the blood in your body.

If there’s not enough, the system can’t work properly and all kinds of problems can result, including AC compressor failure. When your system is regularly maintained by a trained AC professional, he will check the lubricant levels and the condition of the oil pump to prevent this problem.When you take good care of your compressor, it will take good care of the air in your space with consistent, reliable cooling. That means having your air conditioning system serviced at least twice a year by a reputable AC service company. Make sure you choose a service provider with knowledgeable, experienced technicians with MSCA or NATE certification. That way you’ll know that they have the expertise to spot and prevent the problems that can cause AC compressor failure.Did you know that you’ll get the best deal on AC preventative maintenance when you invest in a yearly service contract? You’ll also get a maintenance plan that’s designed specifically for your needs and your budget. Want to learn more?